A TAKEAWAY has become the fourth shop in a North-East town to be robbed by men with knives in less than a week.

Detectives are investigating the methods used and the attackers' descriptions to see if the raids, in Darlington, are linked.

An undisclosed sum was taken from the Pizza Hut takeaway, at Cockerton, in the latest attack on Wednesday, at 9.30pm.

A man, wearing a black jacket and with a stocking mask over his head, ran in, jumped over the counter and demanded money.

He did not show a weapon, but told the store manager he had a knife.

Police are investigating whether a second man, stood outside the shop, was involved in the incident.

The robbery follows three similar attacks on off-licences.

Last Saturday night, raiders first held up Bargain Booze, in Yarm Road.

Two days later, nearly £200 was stolen from Sharmas Newsagents, in North Road.

Then on Wednesday, two men raided Noaman's Store, in Brook Terrace, at 1pm.

Owner Alaa Noaman said the attackers waited until he had left the shop to strike.

He said: "I was afraid something might happen, which is why I am normally in the room next to the shop.

"Basically, I am a prisoner in my own house. I was shocked that they waited for me to go out to the cash and carry."

About £60 and some cigarettes were taken in the raid.

The shop assistant, who was working at the time of the first attack, said she was frightened and shaken by the incident.

The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "These people are lowlifes and pick on people who are weaker than them."

In the first two incidents, the men hid their faces.

The men wore tights over their head in the first robbery. In the second, one man wore a mask or balaclava, and the second a hood and scarf.

One of the men involved in the Sharmas robbery is described as white, between 6ft and 6ft 2in. His accomplice was about 6ft. Both wore dark clothing.

Witnesses are asked to contact the police on 0845 60 60 365 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

* Police arrested two men in their early 20s on Wednesday afternoon in connection with the incident at Noaman's Store.